[Elecraft] K2 100 Tuner question

[W2xj]

Times have changed. 3D printing permits one off runs with little effort after the initial design.  

Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 23, 2018, at 8:00 AM, Edward R Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net> wrote:
> 
> Have to agree, in principle, with Don.
> 
> Many of you may never had done a small volume production.  I have.
> I cannot afford to purchase CNC tooling, metal brakes, etc. for a project of twelve copies.  Vendors are all out of state with added shipping costs.
> 
> So I chose a good quality commercial chassis from Hammond and built an aluminum jig to hold it in a vise for drilling.  Square holes required hand filing.  Stick-on labeling.  I used a pcb made by a reputable small production house (W6PQL).  Those that bought the 80w 2m amp got a pretty good product but no confusion that it was hand made.  Costs were hard to get competitive with commercial amp mfrs but I think the reliability might have been better.
> 
> You would have to survey my customers who all read this list and most have Elecraft radios that were used with the amp (majority had the KX3-2M).
> 
> I had an opportunity to buy out a popular line of transverters and recently a popular preamp maker.  Cost/labor time were decisive against them (mostly at my age).  Had a hard time convincing my self that working for under $10/hour was a good deal.  Each amp took about 18 hours each  and my net was under $100.  So I considered it learning experience and labor of "love".
> 
> In manufacturing there is a concept called "economy of scale" which Wayne and Eric are probably very conversant.
> 
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
>  http://www.kl7uw.com
> Dubus-NA Business mail:
>  dubususa at gmail.com 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to w2xj at w2xj.net
>